Printing apparatus, control method for controlling printing apparatus, and storage medium that stores program

ABSTRACT

A printing apparatus includes a reception unit configured to receive a print job, and an execution unit configured to execute printing of the print job received by the reception unit. The execution unit has a function of, in a case where a setting time or more elapses with a particular cause preventing the printing of the print job not being removed, canceling the printing of the print job. The execution unit has a function of canceling printing of a new print job received by the reception unit in a state where the setting time or more elapses with the particular cause not being removed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/368,736, filed—Mar. 28, 2019, which claims priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2018-073490, filed Apr. 5, 2018, which are herebyincorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a printing apparatus, a control methodfor controlling a printing apparatus, and a storage medium that stores aprogram.

Description of the Related Art

In an office environment, a plurality of users inputs (transmits) aprint job to a printer, using a printer driver via a host computer ofeach user, and the printer executes the printing of the input print job.If a particular cause preventing printing (a suspension cause), such asa paper jam or toner shortage, occurs, a printer installed in such anoffice environment does not execute the printing of a received printjob, and waits for the suspension cause to be removed. If the suspensioncause is removed, the printer executes the printing.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-87591 discusses aprinting apparatus that, if a setting time elapses with a suspensioncause not being removed, automatically cancels the printing of a printjob received by the time when the setting time elapses.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a printing apparatusincludes a reception unit configured to receive a print job, and anexecution unit configured to execute printing of the print job receivedby the reception unit. The execution unit has a function of, in a casewhere a setting time or more elapses with a particular cause preventingthe printing of the print job not being removed, canceling the printingof the print job. The execution unit has a function of cancelingprinting of a new print job received by the reception unit in a statewhere the setting time or more elapses with the particular cause notbeing removed.

Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imageforming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software module configuration of theimage forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a setting screen for automaticcancellation of a print job.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control process for controllingexecution of automatic cancellation of a print job.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control process for controllingexecution of automatic cancellation of a print job.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the accompanying drawings, exemplary embodiments ofthe present disclosure will be described in detail below. The followingexemplary embodiments are not intended to limit the disclosure accordingto the appended claims, and not all the combinations of the featuresdescribed in the exemplary embodiments are essential for a method forsolving the issues targeted to be solved by the present disclosure.

A first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be describedbelow in detail. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating theconfiguration of an image forming apparatus. In the present exemplaryembodiment, an image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, a printingapparatus in which a plurality of functions, such as a scan function anda print function, is integrated together as illustrated in FIG. 1. Theimage forming apparatus 1 includes a controller unit 100 that controlsthe entirety of the apparatus, a scanner 113, a printer 114, and anoperation unit 106. The scanner 113 is an image input device thatoptically reads an image on a document set on the scanner 113. Theprinter 114 is an image output device that, based on image data, printsan image on a recording medium, such as a print sheet.

The operation unit 106 includes a hardware key, such as a numerickeypad, and a touch sensor for receiving the input of an instructionsuch as a job execution instruction from a user. The operation unit 106further includes a display panel for displaying, to the user, apparatusinformation and job progress information, and/or a setting screen forsetting the functions executable by the image forming apparatus 1. Theoperation unit 106 according to the present exemplary embodiment is auser interface including a touch screen. The touch screen displays tothe user (notifies the user of) information such as state informationregarding the image forming apparatus 1 or a setting screen and receivesan operation performed on a displayed screen.

The scanner 113 and the printer 114 are connected to a scannerprocessing unit 111 and a printer processing unit 112, respectively,included in the controller unit 100. The operation unit 106 is connectedto an operation unit interface (I/F) 105 included in the controller unit100. With such a configuration, the scanner 113, the printer 114, andthe operation unit 106 are each operated under the control of thecontroller unit 100.

The controller unit 100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101that performs overall control of the blocks of the controller unit 100.The CPU 101 is connected to a random-access memory (RAM) 102, aread-only memory (ROM) 103, a hard disk drive (HDD) 104, the operationunit I/F 105, and a network I/F 107 via a system bus 108. The RAM 102 isa general-purpose RAM and is a memory for providing a work area for theCPU 101. The RAM 102 is also used as a memory for temporarily storing aparameter and a setting value, and as an image memory for storing imagedata in predetermined units, such as page units. The RAM 102 storesimage data (information) read by the scanner 113, as a print job to beprinted by the printer 114 and further stores image data (information)received by the network I/F 107, as a print job to be printed by theprinter 114. In the present exemplary embodiment, deleting of a printjob from the RAM 102 is referred to as “cancellation of the print job”or “cancellation of the printing of the print job”. The ROM 103 is ageneral-purpose ROM and for example, stores a system boot program as aboot ROM. The HDD 104 stores a system software program, history data,image data, and a table. The functions of the image forming apparatus 1are implemented by, for example, the CPU 101 loading a program stored inthe ROM 103 into the RAM 102 and executing the program.

The operation unit I/F 105 is an interface for inputting and outputtinginformation from and to the operation unit 106. According to aninstruction from the CPU 101, the operation unit I/F 105 outputs displaydata to the operation unit 106 and transmits, to the CPU 101,information input on the operation unit 106 by the user. The network I/F107 is connected to a local area network (LAN) 115, which is a wired orwireless medium, and enables the input and output of information betweenthe image forming apparatus 1 and a device on the LAN 115. The networkI/F 107 has a configuration compatible with the LAN 115 and can have aconfiguration compatible with Near-field communication at a wirelessdistance of about several tens of centimeters, for example. In such acase, the image forming apparatus 1 and a mobile wireless terminalcommunicate with each other.

An image processing unit 109 is a hardware module for executinggeneral-purpose image processing and for example, executing a zoom in orout process, a rotation process, and a conversion process on image dataacquired from outside via the LAN 115. The image processing unit 109further executes the process of rasterizing a page description language(PDL) code received via the LAN 115 into a bitmap image. Further, inoutputting image data compressed, encoded, and stored in the HDD 104using the printer 114 via the printer processing unit 112, the imageprocessing unit 109 executes the process of converting the image datainto a format that can be processed by the printer processing unit 112.The device I/F 110 is connected to the scanner 113 and the printer 114via the scanner processing unit 111 and the printer processing unit 112,respectively, and performs synchronous-to-asynchronous orasynchronous-to-synchronous conversion of image data or transmits asetting value and an adjustment value. Further, the device I/F 110transmits state information regarding the scanner 113 or the printer 114to the CPU 101. The state information includes error informationindicating that, for example, a jam (a paper jam) occurs in the scanner113 or the printer 114, or toner (a developer) used for printing by theprinter 114 runs out.

The scanner processing unit 111 is a hardware module for performingvarious processes corresponding to the scan function, such as acorrection process, a processing process, an image area separationprocess, a magnification process, and a binarization process, on readdata (image data) read by and input from the scanner 113. The scanner113 includes an automatic continuous document feeding device and apressure plate reading device (not illustrated) and can also read adocument placed on a document glass platen and read both sides of eachof a plurality of documents. In the scanner 113, sensors for detectingthe opening and closing of a document cover (not illustrated), thepresence or absence of a document, and the document size are provided.Detection signals from the sensors and state information regarding thescanner 113 are transmitted to the CPU 101 via the scanner processingunit 111 and the device I/F 110, and the CPU 101 recognizes a state suchas the occurrence of an error or the removal of the error in the scanner113.

The printer processing unit 112 is a hardware module for performingprocesses corresponding to the print function, such as an outputcorrection process corresponding to the output characteristics of theprinter 114, a resolution conversion process, and an adjustment processfor adjusting the print position of an image, on image data for printoutput. The printer 114 includes at least one sheet feeding cassette forstoring print sheets. In the printer 114, sensors for detecting thenumber of remaining sheets in each sheet feeding cassette, the presenceor absence of toner, and a paper jam on a sheet conveying path areprovided. Detection signals from the sensors and state informationregarding the printer 114 are transmitted to the CPU 101 via the printerprocessing unit 112 and the device I/F 110, and the CPU 101 recognizes astate, such as the occurrence of an error or the removal of the error inthe printer 114. In other words, the CPU 101 detects the occurrence andthe removal of a particular cause preventing the printing of a print job(e.g., sheet shortage, toner shortage, or a sheet jam) based oninformation from the sensors, and regulates whether to execute theprinting based on the detection. In the following description, aparticular cause preventing the printing of a print job will be referredto as an “error”. In the present exemplary embodiment, an error causedby sheet shortage is an error associated with a print job and is removedby cancellation of a print job having caused the sheet shortage, or byreplenishment of sheets. An error caused by toner shortage is associatedwith the image forming apparatus 1 and is removed by replenishment oftoner. However, canceling of a print job having caused the tonershortage does not remove the error. An error caused by a paper jam isassociated with the image forming apparatus 1 and is removed by thepaper jam being removed. However, canceling of a print job having causedthe paper jam does not remove the error.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the software module configuration ofthe image forming apparatus 1. Modules in FIG. 2 are implemented by theCPU 101 executing a program. A job control processing unit 201 controlsother modules to perform overall control of the execution of jobs thatoccur in the image forming apparatus 1, such as a copy job, a print job,a scan job, and a user interface (UI) processing job.

A UI processing unit 202 performs processing regarding the operationunit 106 and the operation unit I/F 105. The UI processing unit 202transmits information regarding an operation performed on the operationunit 106 by the user to the job control processing unit 201, and alsodisplays a display screen on the operation unit 106 based on aninstruction from the job control processing unit 201. The UI processingunit 202 receives from the user a copy instruction to read image datausing the scanner 113 and print the image data using the printer 114,and transmits the copy instruction to the job control processing unit201. The UI processing unit 202 edits drawing data to be displayed onthe operation unit 106.

A network processing unit 203 performs a communication process with adevice (e.g., a host computer) on the LAN 115 via the network I/F 107.If receiving a control command and data (e.g., print data or image datadescribed in a page description language) from the device on the LAN115, the network processing unit 203 transmits information regarding thecontrol command and the data to the job control processing unit 201.That is, the network processing unit 203 receives, from an externalapparatus on the LAN 115, image data (information) and a printinstruction to print the image data using the printer 114, and transmitsthe instruction and the image data to the job control processing unit201. The network processing unit 203 transmits a control command anddata to the device on the LAN 115 based on an instruction from the jobcontrol processing unit 201.

A scan processing unit 204 performs control to cause the scanner 113 andthe scanner processing unit 111 to execute a reading process for readinga document placed on the scanner 113 based on an instruction from thejob control processing unit 201. The scan processing unit 204 performscontrol to cause the scanner processing unit 111 to execute imageprocessing on read image data. The scan processing unit 204 acquiresstate information (e.g., error information indicating the presence orabsence of an error) regarding the scanner processing unit 111 and thescanner 113 and transmits the state information to the job controlprocessing unit 201.

A print processing unit 205 performs control to cause the imageprocessing unit 109, the printer processing unit 112, and the printer114 to execute a printing process for printing a print job based on aninstruction from the job control processing unit 201. The printprocessing unit 205 receives information such as image data to beprinted, image information (the size, the color mode, and the resolutionof the image data), and output sheet information (the size and the printdirection) from the job control processing unit 201. Then, the printprocessing unit 205 performs control to cause the image processing unit109 and the printer processing unit 112 to execute appropriate imageprocessing on the image data, and performs control to cause the printerprocessing unit 112 and the printer 114 to execute a printing processfor printing the image data on a print sheet (a sheet). The printprocessing unit 205 acquires state information (e.g., error informationindicating the presence or absence of the occurrence of an error, suchas sheet shortage, toner shortage, or a paper jam) regarding the printerprocessing unit 112 and the printer 114 and transmits the stateinformation to the job control processing unit 201.

The job control processing unit 201 receives information transmittedfrom the UI processing unit 202 or the network processing unit 203 as aprint job and registers the print job in a job list managed in the RAM102. That is, in response to receiving print data from an externalapparatus via the network I/F 107 or receiving a copy instruction fromthe user via the operation unit 106 and the operation unit I/F 105, thejob control processing unit 201 receives a print job. The job controlprocessing unit 201 then stores the print job in the RAM 102. The jobcontrol processing unit 201 deletes the print job from the RAM 102,thereby canceling the printing of the print job, as will be describedbelow. The job control processing unit 201 changes the print job to aprint standby state in the job list without deleting the print job fromthe RAM 102, thereby preventing the printing from being automaticallyexecuted even if a suspension cause is removed. The job controlprocessing unit 201 provides each module an instruction to process ajob.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a setting screen regarding theautomatic cancellation of a job when a printing process is suspended dueto the occurrence of an error in the present exemplary embodiment. Asetting item 301 is used for receiving the setting of whether to enablethe function of automatically canceling a suspended job when a settingtime has elapsed after the occurrence of an error. The “suspended job”is a print job for which the printing is prevented due to the error. Ifthe user specifies “on” and when a predetermined time has elapsed afterthe occurrence of the error, the cancellation of the suspended job isexecuted. If the user specifies “off”, the cancellation of the suspendedjob is not executed. “The automatic cancellation of a job” refers to theprocess of, after a job is received and even if a cancellationinstruction is not provided by the user, canceling the job.

A setting item 302 is used for receiving from the user the specifying ofthe time until the execution of the automatic cancellation of thesuspended job, and for setting the specified time as the setting time.If “on” is specified in the setting item 301, the setting item 302 is inthe state where the setting item 302 is settable. If “off” is specifiedin the setting item 301, the setting item 302 is in a grayed-out stateso that the setting item 302 is not settable. The setting time can bespecified by minutes in the range of 0 to 999 minutes. In FIG. 3, usinga plus button and a minus button, the user can adjust the setting timefrom a value “5 minutes” displayed by default. If a finalize button ispressed by the user, the setting contents received on the setting screenin FIG. 3 are finalized, and the finalized settings are saved in the HDD104 or the RAM 102 by the job control processing unit 201 and the UIprocessing unit 202. If a cancel button is pressed by the user, thesettings received on the setting screen in FIG. 3 are canceled. In thepresent exemplary embodiment, if the user sets 0 minutes as the timeuntil the automatic cancellation, all the print jobs registered in thejob list at the time when the error occurs are immediately canceled atthe time when the error occurs. If a time other than 0 minutes is set, aprint job registered in the job list is not canceled during the timeperiod from when the error occurs to this set time. If, however, thesetting time or more has elapsed with the error not being removed, allthe print jobs having registered in the job list by that time arecanceled in the present exemplary embodiment. As will be describedbelow, however, if a print job is received in the state where thesetting time or more has elapsed with the error not being removed (thestate where the error continues for the setting time or more), thereceived print job is immediately canceled. That is, before the settingtime elapses from the time when a new print job is registered in the joblist, the new print job is canceled. In the present exemplaryembodiment, a user who is allowed to set the setting items 301 and 302is only a user having administrator authority on the image formingapparatus 1. Thus, the image forming apparatus 1 has the function ofauthenticating an administrator. A user inputs an ID and a password ofan administrator to the operation unit 106, and if the ID and thepassword are correct, the image forming apparatus 1 authenticates theuser as a user having administrator authority.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control process for controlling theexecution of job cancellation. According to the present exemplaryembodiment, for a job for which the printing is not completed due to anerror, the function of automatically canceling all the print jobsregistered in the job list at the time when the time elapses is executedafter the lapse of the time set in the setting item 302. This functioncorresponds to the processes of YES in step S406 to step S408 (describedbelow). For a print job newly received in the state where the settingtime or more has elapsed with the error not being removed, the functionof automatically canceling the print job before the setting time elapsesfrom the time when the print job is received is also executed. Thisfunction corresponds to the processes of YES in step S409, NO in stepS405, and YES in step S406 to step S408 (described below).

The processing of this flowchart is implemented by, for example, the CPU101 loading a program stored in the HDD 104 into the RAM 102 andexecuting the program. The flowchart is started by the job controlprocessing unit 201 registering a job in the job list. Hereinafter, a“job” will refer to a print job. The registration of a job received bythe image forming apparatus 1 in the job list is performed in parallelwith the processing of this flowchart.

In step S401, the job control processing unit 201 checks whether a jobis registered in the job list. If a job is registered (YES in stepS401), the processing proceeds to step S402. If a job is not registeredin the job list (NO in step S401), the processing returns to step S401.

In step S402, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether anerror occurs. The job control processing unit 201 receives errorinformation from the scan processing unit 204 or the print processingunit 205. If the error information indicates that a particular causepreventing the execution (continuation) of printing occurs, it isdetermined that the error occurs. The job control processing unit 201starts measuring time using a timer based on the occurrence of theerror.

Examples of an error (a particular cause preventing printing, or asuspension cause) caused by the printer 114 include sheet shortage,which indicates a case where sheets run out in the sheet feedingcassette, sheet mismatch, which indicates a case where a specified sheetis not present in a sheet cassette, a paper jam (a sheet jam) on thesheet conveying path, and toner shortage. If the print processing unit205 notifies the job control processing unit 201 of error information,the job control processing unit 201 registers in the job list theinformation indicating that the target job is a suspended job. Then, thejob control processing unit 201 instructs the scan processing unit 204and the print processing unit 205 to stop the printing of the job.

Examples of an error caused by the scanner 113 include a paper jam inthe automatic continuous document feeding device (not illustrated). Ifthe scan processing unit 204 notifies the job control processing unit201 of error information, the job control processing unit 201 registersin the job list the information indicating that the target job is asuspended job. Then, the job control processing unit 201 instructs thescan processing unit 204 and the print processing unit 205 to stop theprinting of the job.

If it is determined in step S402 that the error occurs (YES in stepS402), the job control processing unit 201 displays, on the operationunit 106 using the UI processing unit 202, a screen (an error screen)indicating that the error occurs. The processing proceeds to step S403.If it is determined that the error does not occur (NO in step S402), theprocessing proceeds to step S411.

In step S403, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether thesetting item 301 in FIG. 3 is set to on. If it is determined that thesetting item 301 is on (YES in step S403), the processing proceeds tostep S404. If it is determined that the setting item 301 is not set toon (NO in step S403), the processing proceeds to step S411.

In step S404, the job control processing unit 201 sets in the timer thewaiting time for the execution of automatic cancellation received in thesetting item 302 in FIG. 3 (also referred to as an “extension time”, a“setting time”, or a “timer time”). The job control processing unit 201starts the timer. The timer according to the present exemplaryembodiment is a countdown timer. If the job control processing unit 201starts the timer, the timer counts down the set setting time. Thecountdown timer counts down the time in predetermined time units (e.g.,in one-minute units). For example, if “5 minutes” is set as the settingtime, the job control processing unit 201 counts down the countdowntimer by “1” from “5 (minutes)” every time a minute elapses.

In step S405, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether theerror is removed (the suspension cause is removed). More specifically,the job control processing unit 201 receives error information from thescan processing unit 204 or the print processing unit 205. If the errorinformation indicates that a particular error does not occur, the jobcontrol processing unit 201 determines that the error is removed. If itis determined that the error is removed (YES in step S405), theprocessing proceeds to step S410. If it is determined that the error isnot removed (NO in step S405), the processing proceeds to step S406.

In step S406, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether thetimer time that is set in step S404 expires. That is, the job controlprocessing unit 201 determines whether the setting time or more elapseswith the error not being removed. If the countdown timer is 0 (zero), itis determined that the timer time expires. If it is determined that thetimer time expires (YES in step S406), to execute the automaticcancellation of the job, the processing proceeds to step S407. If it isdetermined that the timer time does not expire (NO in step S406), theprocessing returns to step S405. Since the countdown timer remains 0also after the expiration of the timer time, if it is determined againin step S406 whether the timer time expires, the processing proceeds tostep S407. If the countdown timer reaches 0, the job control processingunit 201 may manage the state of the image forming apparatus 1 as anautomatic cancellation execution state. In such a case, in step S406,the job control processing unit 201 may determine whether the state ofthe image forming apparatus 1 is the automatic cancellation executionstate. If it is determined that the state of the image forming apparatus1 is the automatic cancellation execution state, the processing mayproceed to step S407.

Next, in the loop of the processes of steps S407 to S409, the printingof all the print jobs registered in the job list at the time when thetimer time expires is canceled. A specific processing is as follows.

In step S407, if the job control processing unit 201 detects that thetime (the timer time) up to the automatic cancellation expires, the jobcontrol processing unit 201 acquires the list (the job list) of jobsreceived by the current time (i.e., by the time when the timer expires).The job control processing unit 201 then selects the first job in thejob list.

In step S408, the job control processing unit 201 cancels the jobselected in step S407. That is, the printing of the selected print jobis canceled. As a specific example, the job control processing unit 201deletes information regarding the selected print job from the job list(i.e., the RAM 102) so that the printing of the selected print job willnot be executed from this point. At this time, the job controlprocessing unit 201 also deletes print data of the print job. Thisconfiguration prevents the automatic execution of the print job even ifthe suspension cause is removed after the lapse of the timer time. Instep S408, the job control processing unit 201 may record, as historyinformation regarding the print job canceled in step S408, information(a message or an identification number) indicating that the print job iscanceled because the error is not removed for a certain time. Thisinformation can be referenced by the user later.

Instead of the cancellation process in step S408, the following processmay be performed. That is, the job control processing unit 201 does notdelete the print job selected in step S407 from the RAM 102 (i.e., doesnot cancel the print job), and changes the state of the print job to awaiting-for-print-instruction state. Consequently, the print job is inthe state where the print job waits for a print instruction from theuser, and thus, even if the suspension cause is removed after the lapseof the timer time, the print job is not automatically printed. After thesuspension cause is removed, the user provides a print instruction toprint the print job via a print incompletion job list (not illustrated),whereby the print job in the waiting-for-print-instruction state isprinted.

In step S409, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether thejob list is scanned up to the last job in the job list, i.e., the newestjob in the job list. If it is determined that the job list is notscanned up to the last job in the job list (NO in step S409), then instep S407, the job control processing unit 201 selects the next job inthe job list. Then, in step S408, the job control processing unit 201executes the cancellation. If it is determined in step S409 that the joblist is scanned up to the last job in the job list (YES in step S409),the processing returns to step S405.

Returning to step S405 after the process of step S409 is one of thefeatures of the present exemplary embodiment. More specifically, afterthe process of step S409, the processing returns to step S405 withoutcanceling the timer. Thus, if the error is not removed yet, the timerremains expired. Thus, via the determinations of steps S405 and S406,the processes of steps S407 to S409 are executed. As a result, a printjob received and newly registered in the job list after the expirationof the timer time and before the removal of the error is quicklycanceled without waiting for the further lapse of the timer time.Instead of this cancellation process, the process of changing the stateof the print job to a waiting-for-print-instruction state may beexecuted. The print job in the waiting-for-print-instruction state isreserved in the image forming apparatus 1 without being printed by whenthe image forming apparatus 1 receives a print instruction from theuser.

If it is determined in step S405 that the error is removed (YES in stepS405), then in step S410, the job control processing unit 201 cancelsthe timer set in step S404. Using the UI processing unit 202, the jobcontrol processing unit 201 clears the error screen displayed on theoperation unit 106 and changes back to a normal screen (a standbyscreen). Alternatively, for a predetermined time after clearing theerror screen, the job control processing unit 201 displays a screenindicating that the error is removed on the operation unit 106. The jobcontrol processing unit 201 then displays the normal screen (the standbyscreen). The job control processing unit 201 cause the scan processingunit 204 and the print processing unit 205 to automatically resume theprinting process for printing the suspended print job. This resumptionof the printing is executed without an additional print instruction fromthe user after the operation of removing the error is performed. Asdescribed above, if the suspension cause is removed before an extensiontime (a setting time) elapses after the suspension cause (an error)occurs, a printing process for printing a suspended print job and asubsequent print job is automatically resumed. After the process of stepS410, the processing returns to step S402.

If it is determined in step S402 that the error does not occur (NO instep S402), or if it is determined in step S403 that the setting item301 is not set to on (NO in step S403), then in step S411, the jobcontrol processing unit 201 determines whether a job is registered inthe job list. If it is determined that a job is registered in the joblist (YES in step S411), the processing returns to step S402. If it isdetermined that a job is not registered in the job list (NO in stepS411), the processing of this flow ends. This flow ends in a case wherethe printing of a job is completed. After this flow ends, and if a jobis newly registered in the received job list, this flow starts again.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a countdown timer is used, but isnot limited thereto. Alternatively, any method that enables measurementof the time during which an error continues after the error occurs(i.e., the time elapsed without the error being removed) may be used.For example, in step S404, the job control processing unit 201 may starta countup timer from 0 (zero). Then, in step S406, the job controlprocessing unit 201 may determine whether the countup timer reaches thesetting time.

Yet alternatively, for example, in step S404, the job control processingunit 201 may acquire the current time from a real-time clock (RTC) andstore the acquired current time. In step S406, the job controlprocessing unit 201 may acquire the current time from the RTC. The jobcontrol processing unit 201 may determine whether the difference timebetween the time acquired in step S406 and the time stored in step S404reaches the setting time.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, after the expiration of atimer time, it is possible to automatically cancel the printing of aprint job. Moreover, it is possible to quickly and automatically cancela print job newly received while an error continues after the expirationof the timer time, without waiting for the further expiration of thetimer time. This can resolve an issue regarding security that a highlyconfidential document is seen or erroneously taken away by anotherperson.

A second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed below in detail. In the first exemplary embodiment, aconfiguration is employed in which the deletion of a job registered inthe job list is continued unless the error is removed (the suspensioncause is removed). In the present exemplary embodiment, a configurationis employed in which the time after the expiration of the time until theautomatic cancellation (the timer time) is measured, and if the measuredtime exceeds a certain time, the automatic cancellation is stopped.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control process for controlling theexecution of job cancellation. In the present exemplary embodiment, fora job for which the execution is suspended due to an error, such as ajam, a job cancellation operation for automatically canceling the jobafter a certain time is executed. The processing of this flowchart isimplemented by, for example, the CPU 101 loading a program stored in theHDD 104 into the RAM 102 and executing the program. The flowchart isstarted by the job control processing unit 201 registering a job in thejob list.

The processes in steps S501 to S506, S509 to S511, S513, and S514 aresimilar to those in steps S401 to S406, S407 to S409, S410, and S411,respectively. Thus, the detailed description of these processes areomitted. The process of step S506, however, is different from theprocess of step S406 in that if the job control processing unit 201determines that the timer time expires, the processing proceeds to stepS507. Further, the process of step S511 is different from the process ofstep S409 in that if it is determined that the job list is scanned up tothe last job in the job list, the processing proceeds to step S512.Then, the present exemplary embodiment has the feature that theprocessing of this flow ends based on the determination result of stepS512.

The processes of steps S507 to S512 correspond to the following twofunctions. One is a first automatic cancellation function for, after theexpiration of the timer time, canceling the printing of all the printjobs received up to the time when the timer time expires. The other is asecond automatic cancellation function for, after the expiration of thetimer time, canceling the printing of a print job newly received by thetime elapsed with the error not being removed reaches a certain time.

In step S507, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether thetime elapsed after the expiration of the timer is being measured. If theelapsed time is being measured (YES in step S507), the processingproceeds to step S509. If the elapsed time is not being measured (NO instep S507), the processing proceeds to step S508.

In step S508, the job control processing unit 201 starts measuring thetime elapsed after the expiration of the timer time. The countdown timerremains 0 also after the expiration of the timer time. Thus, also if itis determined again in step S506 whether the timer time expires, theprocessing proceeds to step S507.

In step S512, the job control processing unit 201 determines whether thetime elapsed after the expiration of the timer that starts beingmeasured in step S508 is greater than or equal to a certain time. Thecertain time is set using a time set in a setting item (not illustrated)via the operation unit 106 or a time determined in advance and stored inthe HDD 104. If the certain time does not elapse after the expiration ofthe timer (NO in step S512), the processing returns to step S505. Instep S505, if the error is not yet removed, the process of step S506 isexecuted. Since the timer time expires, the processing proceeds to stepS507. As a result, since the time elapsed after the expiration of thetimer starts being measured in step S508, the processing proceeds fromstep S507 to step S509 this time. In such a case, the processes of stepsS509 to S511 function as the process of canceling the printing of aprint job newly received, after the expiration of the timer time, in thestate where the error is not removed.

If it is determined in step S512 that the certain time elapses after theexpiration of the timer (YES in step S512), the flowchart ends. Sincethe processing ends, then for a print job newly received after the lapseof the certain period after the expiration of the timer, the processingis performed from the beginning (step S501). That is, the printing of aprint job newly received, after the lapse of the certain period afterthe expiration of the timer, in the state where the error is not yetremoved is not quickly canceled, and is automatically canceled after thesetting time or more elapses with the error not being removed. If theerror is removed within this setting time, the newly received print jobis automatically printed.

As described above, the processing in which the processes of steps S509to S511 are performed via the processes steps S507 and S508 correspondsto the first automatic cancellation function. Moreover, the processingin which, after the determination of step S512, the processing returnsto step S505, and after the process of step S507, the processes of stepsS509 to S511 are performed corresponds to the second automaticcancellation function.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, after the expiration of atimer time, it is possible to automatically cancel the printing of aprint job. Furthermore, it is possible to quickly and automaticallycancel a print job newly received within a certain time in the time inwhich an error continues after the expiration of the timer time, withoutwaiting for the further expiration of the timer time. Moreover, for aprint job received after the lapse of the certain time, the printing isnot automatically canceled until the timer time expires again, so thatthe automatic printing can be executed after the error is removed. Thiscan resolve an issue regarding security that a highly confidentialdocument is seen or erroneously taken away by another person, and alsoprovide an opportunity for the automatic execution of printing due tothe removal of an error. Thus, it is possible to provide a printingapparatus with more excellent usability.

Other Exemplary Embodiments

In the above exemplary embodiments, a configuration is employed inwhich, if it is detected that the timer time expires, the cancellationof the first to last jobs in the list of jobs received up to the currenttime (up to the time when the timer expires) continues to be performed.That is, if the timer time expires, all the print jobs in the list arecanceled. The present disclosure, however, is also applicable to aconfiguration in which, after a single job is canceled, whether or notthe error is removed is checked. More specifically, in the flowchart ofFIG. 4, a configuration may be employed in which the process of stepS409 is omitted, and the processing proceeds from step S408 to stepS405. In the flowchart of FIG. 5, a configuration may be employed inwhich the process of step S511 is omitted, and the processing proceedsfrom step S510 to step S512. The cancellation of the print job isperformed in step S408 in such a manner, and thus, for example, thecancellation of a print job having caused sheet shortage leads toremoving the error, and the processing proceeds to step S410 based onthe determination of step S405. Thus, since the next print job isstarted in the state where the error is removed and also the state wherethe timer is canceled, if an error occurs in the printing of this printjob, the countdown timer starts anew. Then, if the setting time or moreelapses without the error being removed, the printing of the print jobis canceled.

In the above exemplary embodiments, all the jobs are cancellationtargets. Alternatively, a job may be excluded from cancellation targetsdepending on the type of the job. For example, in a case where it isdifficult to input a job again due to a difficulty in specifying asender as in facsimile, the job may be removed from cancellationtargets. Jobs may be accumulated in a memory, and a job that requires anoperation of a user for printing (reservation printing or the receptionof facsimile by a memory) may be excluded from cancellation targets.

In the above exemplary embodiments, if the timer time elapses, a printjob received by that time and a print job received after that time arecanceled. As described above, however, the print jobs may not becanceled, but may be prevented from being automatically executed afterthe removal of the suspension cause. For example, the print jobs may bereserved in the printing apparatus so that the print jobs are executedbased on an instruction from the user after the removal of thesuspension cause.

The present disclosure can also be realized by the process of supplyinga program for implementing one or more functions of the above exemplaryembodiments to a system or an apparatus via a network or a storagemedium, and causing one or more processors of a computer of the systemor the apparatus to read and execute the program. Further, the presentdisclosure can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for implementing the oneor more functions.

A new print job received after a print job is automatically canceledbased on the setting time is automatically canceled after the settingtime elapses again, unless the suspension cause is removed. If, however,the suspension cause is removed before the setting time elapses again,the printing of the new print job is automatically executed. In otherwords, the following case can occur. Assume that after a user A inputs aprint job, the print job is canceled because a setting time elapses witha suspension cause not being removed. After that, a user B inputs aprint job in the state where the suspension cause is not removed. Insuch a case, the printing of the print job input by the user B issuspended until the setting time elapses again. Thus, if the user Aremoves the suspension cause, the printing of the print job input by theuser B is automatically printed. As a result, the user A can erroneouslytake back a print product that belongs to the user B by rights.According to the present exemplary embodiment, it is possible to resolveat least one of the above issues.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, it is possible to cancelthe printing of a print job newly received in the state where a settingtime or more elapses with a particular cause for preventing the printingof a print job not being removed, before the setting time furtherelapses.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment(s) of the present disclosure can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, the scope of the following claims are to beaccorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and equivalent structures and functions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing apparatus comprising: a reception unitconfigured to receive a print job; and an execution unit configured toexecute printing of the print job received by the reception unit, theexecution unit having a function of, in a case where a setting time ormore elapses with a particular cause preventing the printing of theprint job not being removed, canceling the printing of the print job,wherein the execution unit has a function of canceling printing of a newprint job received by the reception unit in a state where the settingtime or more elapses with the particular cause not being removed.